While government services around the country have shut down - including food inspections, cancer treatments and meteorological tracking - the House gym is still up and running, albeit without towel service.

Republicans in the House continue passing piecemeal budget bills, including one passing military death benefits on Wednesday.

Democrats are opposed to piecemeal funding, in part because it could take up to 10 weeks to fully fund the government.

In the meantime, the country draws ever closer to a potential debt-ceiling default on October 17 with no congressional compromise in sight.

RT's Sam Sacks talks to Ben Swann, founder of benswann.com, about the consequences of a continued shutdown and of the country defaulting on its debts.